Community Meal Research Articles

Although recent studies have shown that the diets of homeless adults, especially men, are inadequate, few studies have examined the dietary intakes of homeless children and women. The purpose of this study was to assess the adequacy of the diets of sheltered homeless families and to compare it with that of a low-income but nonhomeless population. The dietary intakes of homeless families (n = 135) staying at shelters and motels were compared with the intakes of low-income families who used free community meal sites (n = 129) in Wisconsin. In addition, the diets of homeless families staying in shelters were compared with the dietary intakes of homeless families living in motels. The diets of homeless adults and children were found to be more adequate than were the diets of the nonhomeless comparison group. Adults in homeless families staying at motels had poorer intakes than did adults staying at shelters, but this difference was not found for their children. Shelter directors reported that they often have difficulty providing appealing but nutritious meals within the constraints of the various meal service methods they used. Shelter foodservice staff should be viewed as an important target group for nutrition education interventions.

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